Bookrest



Oct. 22, 1940. M. M. HENDERSON BODKREST Filed May 19, 1939 Ivy/011 .M/zende rsw;

Patented Oct. 22, 1940 PATENT oFFicE 2,219,091 BOOKREST Myron M. Henderson, Coffeyville, Kans.

Application May 19, 1939, Serial No. 274,619

2 Claims.

This invention relates to rests for books or the like, intended to be placed on a desk or other support and to support an open book or the like in an inclined position so that it may be conveniently read, etc.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the above kind which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in use, capable of being folded so as to occupy a minimum of space when not in use.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a bookrest constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bookrest with the book supporting plate swung forwardly to a horizontal position, so as to reveal details of construction; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 1 but with the book supporting plate folded rearwardly and downwardly onto'the base, parts being broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the present invention includes a base plate 5 of general triangular shape having wings 50. formed on the rearwardly converging edges thereof, and adapted to rest in a substantially horizontal position on a desk or other support, suction cup feet 6 being attached to the underside of base plate 5 at the three corner portions thereof so that the base 5 will be elevated a distance above the supporting surface and effectively retained against slipping on the latter.

A book supporting plate I is hinged at its lower edge as at 8 to the forward edge of the base 5, and provided on the front of the plate 7 near its hinged edge is a ledge 9 to support the lower end of the book or the like. This ledge preferably consists of a strip of quarter-round wood having the upper exposed flat face thereof outwardly and downwardly beveled as at H) so that the pages of the book will not bind on the ledge when they are turned.

The base plate and book supporting plate are provided with complemental means, such as a ratchet bar ll attached to the upper surface of the base 5, and a strut I2 hinged at I 3 to the back of the supporting plate 1, whereby the book supporting plate 1 may be adjustably supported,

in an inclinedtposition, the inclination of the plate I being variable. The hinges 8 are arranged so that when the parts 5 and I are opened up in alined relation as shown in Figure 3, the adjacent edges of the parts 5 and V will abut. l2 has an opening it at its free end so that the bookrest may be conveniently hung up in this opened condition of Figure 3 when not in use.

t will be noted that the book supporting plate 5 may be swung rearwardly and downwardly upon the base 5 adjacent and parallel to the latter as shown in Figure 4 so that the bookrest will occupy a minimum of space when not in use and stored away without being hung up. This is permitted by simply disengaging the strut l2 from the ratchet bar I l, and means, such as spring catches it carried by the supporting plate I and engageable over the rear edges of the Wings 50. may be provided to secure the parts 5 and l in folded relation as shown in Figure 4.

At the upper edge of the supporting plate I are provided spaced spring clips 16 which straddle the upper edge of the plate l and are attached to the back of the latter, said clips being arranged to engage over the upper edges of the book pages to retain them in proper position upon the rest or to hold the book in an open position. As shown, these spring clips are'made of strips of spring metal and are formed at their rear ends with rearwardly directed extensions providing the catch-es l5.

The manner of use, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be seen that the device is extremely simple and will efficiently serve the intended purpose.

What I claim as new is:

l. A bookrest or the like comprising a horizontal base plate of general triangular form having wings formed on the rearwardly converging edges thereof, supporting feet for the base plate attached to the underside of the latter at the corners of the same, a book supporting plate hinged at one end to one edge of the base so that the adjacent edges'of the base and book supporting plate will abut when they are alined, a book supporting ledge fixed on the front of the book supporting plate near the hinged edge thereof, complemental means on the base and book supporting plate for adjustably supporting the latter in variable inclined positions, said lastnamed means including a ratchet bar secured upon the base and a strut bar pivoted to the back of the book supporting plate and having an aperture in its free end to facilitate suspension of the The strut 5 bookrest when not in use, resilient clips extending over the upper edge of the book supporting plate for retaining the pages of the book in open position, said clips having rear legs secured to the back of the book supporting plate, and catches formed integral with said rear legs of the clips and engageable with the Wings of the base to fasten the base and book supporting plate in adjacent folded relation when the strut is disengaged from the ratchet bar.

2. A bookrest or the like comprising a horizontal base plate of general triangular form, supporting feet for the base plate attached to the underside of the latter at the corners of the same, a book supporting plate hinged at one end to one edge of the base so that the adjacent edges of the base and book supporting plate will abut when they are alined, a book supporting ledge fixed on the front of the book supporting plate near the hinged edge thereof, complemental means on the base and book supporting plate for adjustably supporting the latter in variable inclined positions, said last-named means including a ratchet bar secured upon the base and a strut bar pivoted to the back of the book supporting plate and having an aperture in its free end to facilitate suspension of the bookrest when not in use, resilient clips extending over the upper edge of the book supporting plate for retaining the pages of the book in open position, said clips having rear legs secured to the back of the book supporting plate, and catches formed integral with said rear legs of the clips and engageable with the base to fasten the base and book supporting plate in adjacent folded relation when the strut is disengaged from the ratchet bar, said base having lateral wings on the rearwardly converging edges thereof, and said spring catches being engageable over the rear edges of said win MYRON M. HENDERSON. 

